A gothic tale, somnolent and sombre, of a family marked by tragedy and now united for the funeral of its head, Hurat Herald, whose last days had been obsessed by doubt and suspicion. Regan, just and Fray, Burst's much younger brother, alone are concerned by urstia death, together -- in a household of the old, eccentric, queulous and simpleminded, recapitulate memories which may throw light on past accidents which no longer seem accidental, and eventually find the answer. Excellence here in character and atmosphere detail, in indirect, retrospective narration, in cumulative suspense, make this a top performance in the genre.